Trump’s plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Montana today on his way to a rally. Given the bad luck surrounding his presidential campaign so far, it’s not hard to imagine something catastrophic happening when hearing that news. However, the reality of the situation is relatively benign, as we’ll explain below.
What happened to Trump’s plane in Montana?
According to local NBC affiliate KTVH, Trump’s plane made an emergency landing in Billings, Montana, ahead of a rally in Bozeman. His Boeing 757 had an unspecified mechanical issue, and a second plane was dispatched. Trump was able to board the second plane and complete the last leg of his journey to Bozeman unimpeded.
Apparently, the mechanical issue was non-critical, as Trump didn’t even mention it in a later video posted to Truth Social. After landing in Bozeman, Trump proceeded to the rally, where he’s slated to speak at 8 p.m. MDT. There, he plans to endorse Montana GOP Senate candidate Tim Sheehy against Democratic incumbent Jon Tester. After leaving Montana, he plans to continue campaigning across the country over the coming days.
This seemingly minor mechanical hiccup comes amidst a series of challenges facing Trump’s campaign, including the assassination attempt on the presidential candidate and the unusually large impact a particular meme has had on public perception of his VP pick, JD Vance. However, the issue was quickly resolved, allowing him to maintain his schedule without significant disruption. Such incidents, though not uncommon in campaign travels, often garner superfluous media attention due to Trump’s high-profile status.
Moving forward, how this small event is perceived could either underscore the efficiency of Trump’s campaign in handling unexpected challenges or be portrayed as a sign of disarray. His ability to smoothly transition past such hurdles without altering campaign plans could subtly reinforce his image of resilience among supporters.